Aberdeen have appointed Neil Warnock as their interim manager until the end of the season. The 75-year-old has come in as a short-term replacement for Barry Robson with the club eighth in the Premiership.

Warnock has long stated he wanted to manage in Scotland and has a home in Dunoon, across the Firth of Clyde from Greenock. He revealed last year that he thought he was once close to getting the Hearts job.

Warnock came out of retirement 12 months ago to return to Huddersfield and steer them from second bottom to safety in the Championship. The former Leeds, Sheffield United and Cardiff manager departed in September and did not rule out restarting his career. He will take charge of Aberdeen for the first time at Rangers on Tuesday.

Warnock, who has been by his assistant Ronnie Jepson, said: “By all accounts there is a good group of lads here and it’s my job now to get the best out of them. Aberdeen is a big club with clear ambition and I’m hoping that during my time here the supporters will get behind the team and I can put a smile on their faces.”

Warnock had predicted he would be in demand this month. “My health is good, I’ve never felt better,” he said when he left Huddersfield, who last week sacked his successor, Darren Moore. “If anything I’ve got the buzz again. You don’t know what the next knock on the door is going to be. I’m sure when February comes round people will be asking me again.”

It is the fourth season in a row in which the Aberdeen manager has left at about this time of year – Robson following Derek McInnes, Stephen Glass and Jim Goodwin – and the club plan to take their time over their next long-term appointment. They are conducting a review of the football operation that began at the end of last year.

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